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21Jan4 - I can't afford to die - Managing the cost of dying in an ageing society - Speaker Presentations

1.
I can’t afford to die: Managing the
cost of dying in an ageing society
Tuesday 21st January 2014
This event is kindly supported by the Institute for Policy Research
and Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath.
#costofdying

2.
Welcome
Baroness Sally Greengross
Chief Executive
ILC-UK
This event is kindly supported by the Institute for Policy Research
and Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath.
#costofdying

3.
The Cost of Dying in an Ageing
Society
Dr Kate Woodthorpe
Lecturer in Sociology, Department of Social and
Policy Sciences
University of Bath
This event is kindly supported by the Institute for Policy Research
and Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath.
#costofdying

4.
Institute for Policy Research
The Cost of Dying in an Ageing Society
Dr Kate Woodthorpe
Lecturer in Sociology, Department of Social and Policy Sciences
21st January 2014
International Longevity Centre, London.
k.v.woodthorpe@bath.ac.uk
01225 386852

5.
Institute for Policy Research
Brief outline
• Building up a body of evidence
• Our own research
• Key findings
• Focus for today: issues and outcomes
• Questions for discussion

6.
Institute for Policy Research
Building up a body of evidence
• Knowledge gap: experiential learning
• Sun Life Direct Cost of Dying work
• Corden et al (University of York): financial implications of the death
of a partner
• Death and social policy
• Policy areas, inheritance, debt, financial literacy, guidance and support
• Death and the family

7.
Institute for Policy Research
Recent developments
• NCPC, Dying Matters and National Bereavement Alliance report
• ‘Life after death: six steps to improve support in bereavement’
• Calling for national review of impact of financial, administrative and
economic changes on those who have been bereaved
• Available here:
http://dyingmatters.org/sites/default/files/Life%20After%20Death%2
0FINAL(1).pdf

8.
Institute for Policy Research
Our own research
• 2012: qualitative study into DWP Social Fund Funeral Payment,
with international comparison
• 2013: qualitative study into preparing for older age
• Independent academic research funded by Sun Life Direct
• Led to a Parliamentary Roundtable November 2012
• Funeral poverty manifesto

10.
Institute for Policy Research
Preparing for older age
• Variation in attitudes: pragmatists, hopefuls and fatalists
• Obligation and responsibility
• Sharing of resources
• Trust in advice and guidance, and each other
• Blended and fluid families

13.
Institute for Policy Research
Questions for discussion
• What are the costs associated with dying, the end of life and
bereavement?
• What is the reality of funeral poverty and how can this be
addressed?
• Can the cost of dying, end of life and bereavement be reduced?
• What is the role/responsibility of the public, private and third
sectors?

14.
Institute for Policy Research
Publication details
•
Sun Life Direct (2013) Cost of Dying Report (Bristol: Sun Life Direct)
•
Sun Life Direct (2012) Affording a funeral: Social Fund Funeral Payments (Bristol: Sun Life
Direct)
•
Both available here: http://www.sunlifedirect.co.uk/About-Sun-Life-Direct/Press-Office/Research/
•
Woodthorpe, K., Rumble, H. and Valentine, C. (2013) ‘Putting ‘the grave’ into social policy: state
support for funerals in contemporary UK society’, Journal of Social Policy, 42 (3): 605 – 622.
•
Foster, L. and Woodthorpe, K. (2013) ‘What cost the price of a good send off? The challenges
for British state funeral policy’, Journal of Poverty and Social Justice, 21 (1): 77 – 89.
•
Valentine, C. and Woodthorpe, K. (forthcoming) ‘From the cradle to the grave: funeral welfare
from an international perspective’, Social Policy and Administration.
www.bath.ac.uk/ipr

15.
Institute for Policy Research
Centre for Death and Society (CDAS)
• The UK’s only centre devoted to the study and research of social
aspects of death, dying and bereavement
• Recent research: Engaging young people with death; Bereavement
through family members’ substance misuse; Digital Inheritance;
Future Cemeteries
Contact details:
www.bath.ac.uk/cdas
cdas@bath.ac.uk
01225 386949

16.
The cost of dying: long-term
Projections
Ben Franklin
Research Fellow
ILC-UK
This event is kindly supported by the Institute for Policy Research
and Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath.
#costofdying

17.
The cost of dying: long-term projections
Ben Franklin, International Longevity Centre – UK
@ilcuk
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.

21.
Many thanks
Ben Franklin
Research Fellow
International Longevity Centre
benfranklin@ilcuk.org.uk
0207 340 0440
Twitter: @ilcuk
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.

22.
I can’t afford to die
Debbie Kerslake
CEO
Cruse Bereavement Care
This event is kindly supported by the Institute for Policy Research
and Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath.
#costofdying

27.
Key Points
The economic costs of bereavement:
• Are increasing
• Will affect many more people as the death rate
rises
• Have a long-term impact well beyond paying for
the funeral
• Impact on mental and physical health
Urgent action is needed

28.
Funeral Planning
Dean Lamble
Managing Director
Sun Life Direct
This event is kindly supported by the Institute for Policy Research
and Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath.
#costofdying

30.
Issues
What is the problem?
 Research shows us 1 in 5 report
a shortfall in paying for a
funeral
 That shortfall we estimate to
be c£1,200
 18% of people reported the
cost of funerals was causing
concern
How are customer trying to solve
it?
 27% savings
 25% borrowed from
friend/relative
 22% put it on a credit card
 13% took out a loan
 10% sold belongings
Funeral poverty is a real key concern and the quicker people start
planning, the better the chances to help solve the issue
30
22/01/2014

32.
I can’t afford to die: Managing the cost
of dying in an ageing society
Elizabeth Procter
Palliative Care Services Manager
Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice
This event is kindly supported by the Institute for Policy Research
and Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath.
#costofdying

33.
I can’t afford to die: Managing the
cost of dying in an ageing society
Tuesday 21st January 2014
This event is kindly supported by the Institute for Policy Research
and Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath.
#costofdying